Things 2013 #11: How to make your own robot… Need I say any more really?

The last five days have brought us a lovely collection of things, with hints of rock and roll, cardboard boxes and punctuation. It’s going to be a tasty one.

Mono.Kultur #33: Spring 2013

Mono.Kultur #33: Spring 2013

Mono.Kultur #33: Spring 2013

Mono.Kultur #33: Spring 2013

Mono.Kultur #33: Spring 2013

Mono.Kultur #33: Spring 2013

While we’re shivering in the It’s Nice That studio, Mono.Kultur have had the brilliant idea of skipping winter all together and going straight to their Spring 2013 edition. It centres around Sonic Youth’s Kim Gordon, featuring art work from the musician and an insight into the world of rock and roll.www.mono-kultur.com

Viviane Schwarz & Flying Eye Books: Welcome To Your Awesome Robot

Viviane Schwarz & Flying Eye Books: Welcome To Your Awesome Robot

Viviane Schwarz & Flying Eye Books: Welcome To Your Awesome Robot

Viviane Schwarz & Flying Eye Books: Welcome To Your Awesome Robot

Viviane Schwarz & Flying Eye Books: Welcome To Your Awesome Robot

Viviane Schwarz & Flying Eye Books: Welcome To Your Awesome Robot

If you’ve ever wanted to make a robot out of a cardboard box then look no further. With step-by-step instructions, it shows you how to give your robot features, internal storage, and the best part, you get a certificate at the end. Who says this is just for children?www.vivianeschwarz.co.uk

Flamingo: The Future Craft Issue

Flamingo: The Future Craft Issue

Flamingo: The Future Craft Issue

Flamingo: The Future Craft Issue

Flamingo: The Future Craft Issue

Flamingo: The Future Craft Issue

Celebrating the art of craftsmanship, this magazine is a visual delight. Great features including how to brew the perfect beer and how to get green fingered. Another ingenious feature is Workstations – where illustrators like Timothy Hunt show us their creative space through their image-making. www.flamingomagazine.com

Christian Morgenstern: In The Land Of Punctuation

Christian Morgenstern: In The Land Of Punctuation

Christian Morgenstern: In The Land Of Punctuation

Christian Morgenstern: In The Land Of Punctuation

Christian Morgenstern: In The Land Of Punctuation

Christian Morgenstern: In The Land Of Punctuation

First published in 1905 by German poet Christian Morgenstern, this picture book is a unique combination of typography, language and politics. The simple yet brilliant illustrations of Rathna Ramanathan bring the poem to life. If I lived in the land of punctuation, I would also hate semi-colons. www.tarabooks.com

Full Drop Co. package

Full Drop Co. package

Full Drop Co. package

Full Drop Co. package

Full Drop Co. package

Full Drop Co. package

Our friends at Full Drop Co. have sent us a bundle of truly wonderful things. Including a calendar and Shape & Staple – a booklet of spot, stripe, floral and geometric designs. These guys are seriously talented and envision a "pattern infused world. : Please can I live in your world?www.fulldropco.com

I’m not quite sure how it’s already July, but another month has rolled by which means it’s time for a studio round-up of all things bright and beautiful. This month we’ve had everything from a spoof map of the stars set in “the most boring part of Hollywood,” a great little book of illustrations and rhyming one-liners about a stalker, and a couple of attention-grabbing alternatives to business cards and work-update emails. Here’s June!h3. Josh Jones: Hollywood

The area around my desk has all but been taken over by all the great stuff everyone sends us. It’s been really tough picking out the best bits and pieces but the situation was fast becoming something of a health and safety hazard and imminent danger has a way of making everything much clearer. This month there’s everything from a card game to a photography magazine to a loo roll of design criticism (what?). Here’s Things!h3. Henry Thomas Lloyd: Hot Air

The last time I wrote a Things round-up was back in December 2011 so please forgive me if I’m out of practice. Of course I’ve been furiously tearing into the post on a daily basis since my last instalment, but I’ve not been able to wax lyrical about it as regularly as I’d like. I’m going to relish this opportunity. So without further ado here’s my top ten tasty treats from the plentiful pile of post this month. Somebody stop me!
h3. Giulia Garbin: Tipi Di Torino

It’s been a very, very long time since I wrote a Things post, and what fun it is to delve into the box once again and pick out the best bits and bobs from the last month. This list is very publication-heavy and I apologise for that, but that’s kind of the majority of what we get sent anyway, so until people start sending us crates of cheese and wine or frisbees (anyone?) that’s just the way it is. So, without further ado here are the best gems the postman has delivered to the It’s Nice That studio this month. Enjoy!h3. Kyle Pellet – Wonkyvision

So many great books, prints and cards have been flying through the letterbox that we got kind of distracted reading and forgot to post any of it last week, so here’s a slightly belated round-up of quality publishing in various shapes and sizes. Keep ’em comin’!
h3. Annu Kilpeläinen: Prints

We love stuff! We love stuff so much that we actively encourage you to send it to us, and when you do, we tear the packaging from it and send it whirling to the floor while dancing around clutching your stuff with joy. (Not a euphemism.) Contrary to popular belief, January is a pretty good month for creative endeavours, or so our bulging supply of cool new stuff would lead us to believe. Here are ten of the best ones from January!h3. Pica Editions: Super-Food